tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751051528365447234.post3992295978887531052..comments2023-04-08T04:21:57.037-05:00Comments on made for JOY: Seven Quick Takes - Volume 12Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09230149152827999152noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751051528365447234.post-36750698637010774412011-06-26T22:55:05.718-05:002011-06-26T22:55:05.718-05:00I don't know why I didn't see this post un...I don't know why I didn't see this post until now, but I wish you still lived next door so I could give you a giant hug. I'm actually very teary eyed typing this now. You have hit on so many real and true points that resonate with so many mothers! love to you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751051528365447234.post-86127303265553997032011-06-18T10:33:24.409-05:002011-06-18T10:33:24.409-05:00((((((Hugs )))))
Burn out happens, as much as we ...((((((Hugs )))))<br /><br />Burn out happens, as much as we love our children and as much as we try to live with an intentional joyful spirit. Sometimes, often, maybe even almost always, our lives don't always turn out the way we dreamed. We don't live in the house we want or know in our hearts would be great for family life. We don't live in the city where our kids have the opportunities we want them to have. We often don't have the friends and support we need and the older and busier we get the harder it is to cultivate these deep friendships. Worst of all we don't seem to demonstrate that the Holy Spirit is bearing all twelve fruits in us and we wonder what is wrong with us spiritually. Sometimes we no longer feel that we are called to home school, but continue because we feel we have no other choice. All of this is normal and you are not alone!<br /><br />First - do anything you have to do to take a few breaks from your children. Hire a babysitter while your husband is gone. This is not selfish "me time" as much as it is for the sake of your family. Get out alone to a coffee shop, bookstore, library or museum. Send the kids outside every day when the baby is napping. Spend time in prayer, re-ordering your schedule and chore charts, reading just for you.<br /><br />Second - arrange for an influx of positive input. Read the "burnout" chapter in Elizabeth Foss's book. Download some talks by homeschooling moms of many to listen to when you take walks. Order some CDs from the Catholic conference you missed online. Many of the CDs from Vision Forum have helped me this year - they are practical and Biblical. Keep the input pathways positive and constructive.<br /><br />Third - keep having faith that God has a plan for your life and your children. He will put your passions and talents to use, though all in His time. Perfect is the enemy of good. You will live to tell others how you overcame all the obstacle He put before you. Obstacles to desires that are good, wholesome, and worthy of His blessings. Keep knocking at His door!<br /><br />And one more - please put in a word for bringing Irish dance to Elk River too! I saw in our local paper that the organizer of the Irish Festival lives here in Elk River, teaches exercise classes at the Y but there is no Irish Dance here! I would love for our girls to continue in dance, but the Ballet Academy here might be too time and money intensive for us!queen of the castlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01380202178477553248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751051528365447234.post-40300388269042969702011-06-18T07:22:54.522-05:002011-06-18T07:22:54.522-05:00I am so sorry to hear that you are struggling righ...I am so sorry to hear that you are struggling right now, but really, it's understandable given your circumstances. A move is a huge adjustment and especially one where you feel as though it wasn't necessarily a change for the better. And even without moving, yes, there have been times when I wanted to hide form my children and just be! Like I mentioned over at Grace's blog, I find myself telling my older children alot lately that their feelings are an expression of their soul. They cannot change them. You feel what you feel and to try to deny those feelings is to separate body and soul which is like killing yourself a little inside since body and soul only separate in death. Where they do have control is how the react or respond to those feelings. That's where their choice lies. I hope you feel better soon. We will pray for warmth and sunshine to be sent your way. Goodness knows we have plenty!Charlotte (WaltzingM)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12690056082240865041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751051528365447234.post-54278146861296809532011-06-17T22:04:41.329-05:002011-06-17T22:04:41.329-05:00Thank you for being YOU.:)Thank you for being YOU.:)Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06388424669379051657noreply@blogger.com